The 19th annual Men’s Club Golf Outing to benefit the Nicholas J. Feller Scholarship Fund will be Saturday, September 29. Proceeds of this event fund two $1,000 awards given annually to eighth grade students of Queen of Angels Grammar School who will continue their education at a Catholic high school. What: Queen of Angels 19th Annual Golf Outing sponsored by the Men’s Club Open to ALL parishioners Where: Chick Evans Golf Course, 6145 Golf Road, Morton Grove Dinner at the Voss Center When: Saturday, September 29 Time: Registration at the course will start at 12:30 p.m. Shot gun start promptly at 1:30 p.m. with 18 holes (scramble format) Voss Center doors open at 6:30 p.m. with Dinner at 7:30 p.m. Cost: Golf, Catered Dinner and OPEN Bar $70.00 Seniors 62 and over or Young Adults 18 and under $60.00 Golf Only - All ages $50.00 Dinner Only $30.00 Seniors and Young Adults $20.00 Golf outing consists of 18 holes of golf (scramble format), golf cart and prizes awarded at the dinner. All golfers are eligible for special Hole-in-One prizes of $10,000 cash, airline tickets for two and pro shop Merchandise. Dinner will be catered, with an open bar. No prior golf experience necessary. The outing is open to all parishioners, family and friends. We are not limited to the number of golfers. Full payment is due no later than September 14. Reach Joe Cherone at 773-539-1249 or jcherone@ameritech.net. Or contact Larry Brown at brownpkg@comcast.net or 773-509-1155.

In your readings of the gospel, did you ever notice how many times Jesus is present at banquet gatherings, at meals with friends or partaking of a meal with the multitude he is teaching? Banquets are especially prominent in Luke’s gospel and so we find that many of Jesus’ teachings in Luke 14 occur at meals.

Today’s gospel is a classic in distinguishing between who is with the “in” group and who is left behind. Jesus is present at a meal of one of the leading Pharisees, and since Jesus had a different style of treating people, that is, being more inclusive, he is the target of “being watched.” Jesus is noticing how people are choosing places at the table. Many want to be seated in positions of honor. This prompts Jesus to tell a story, a parable, which is the method he has chosen many times in teaching and bringing across a point to his listeners.

I can’t help but think how often we may have found ourselves in similar situations, at wedding receptions, at business/company gatherings that recognize someone’s achievements or perhaps at parish functions. It is quite a trick to line up the guest list so as to give each one their due and thereby be sensitive to whoever is invited. There is something about being at the head table and receiving the recognition that goes with it. I have a feeling that on occasion, choices are made to make a return to someone for what they have done for us. In emphasizing some points of common etiquette, Jesus advises his listeners to go to lower places rather than seeking out places of honor so as to avoid the humiliation of being asked to move down in case that may be needed.

Sometimes I wonder whether this advice of not seeking places in front has been so deeply engraved in the imagination of Catholics that they still huddle in the back of church. This may be the case in some parish communities, but I noticed that here at Queen of Angels, parishioners and many families quite regularly fill the front pews. This is heartening to witness and from my perspective, it gives evidence of how people desire to be close to the action of the Eucharist.

The parable of the wedding feast told by Jesus had some real challenges in it. I believe he saw it as an opportunity to change some of the thinking going on regarding who is first, who is last. It was sort of a game-play between Jesus and the Pharisees, but we’ll notice that Jesus was better and sharper at bringing across a crucial lesson. He not only clarified how invited guests were to be seated at the banquet, but who is to be invited.

Here Jesus presents a challenge right up front to the Pharisee. He states clearly that persons who are on the margins of society need to be included on the guest list, that is, “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” They had no acknowledged status in public circles. The parable of the wedding feast was also an analogy to the Kingdom of God and the resurrection at the end of life to which everyone will be called. We believe when that final event occurs, all of us will be ”guests” of the Kingdom, the rich and the poor, the famous and the unknown, the wise and the lowly. The question of benefiting from friends and persons in higher places will not be given consideration.

It seems to me that part of the challenge Jesus lays before the Pharisee, and before us is this: “Why do we do what we do” and what is our belief about ”life after death”? Do we perform good deeds to enhance our reputation or to benefit in a material way from other persons’ material fortune? Food for thought!

Many of the meals at which Jesus was present in Luke’s gospel tend to remind me of partaking in the Eucharistic liturgy, week after week. There need be no distinctions about who is present, rich or poor. We are all “guests” of a loving God.

Eucharist is an occasion for being reconciled and healed, for being strengthened on the journey to the Kingdom. This journey is not made in isolation. We have many companions at our sides. These include the persons in our families, our neighborhood, in this faith community at Queen of Angels.

Let us be inclusive of others in our everyday lives, whether that be at work or at home, at parties and celebrations, or in the heavier moments of life. Then, together we will be side by side at the wedding feast of the resurrection and our final entry into God’s Kingdom. Father Jim Kaczorowski

VEHICLE DONATIONS ACCEPTED The Society of St. Vincent DePaul accepts donated vehicles through the “Vehicles for the Needy” program. Anyone with an unwanted vehicle in any condition is encouraged to make a tax-deductible donation. RVs, boats, golf carts and other vehicles are accepted.

The Society will arrange for the vehicle, the vehicle’s title and keys to be picked up. Donors will receive a receipt for the amount the vehicle was sold. Vehicle donations can help our volunteers provide emergency assistance with rent, utilities, transportation, food, clothing and furniture to help a neighbor get through a crisis. For more information, call 312-655-7181.

SACRED ICON SHOW Iconographer Joseph Malham will present an exhibition of original sacred icon panels, banners and prints from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 at St. Gregory the Great Church Parish Center, 5455 N. Paulina. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please call 773-561-3546.

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT “In Illinois, 81.7% of food assistance clients who receive Food Stamps report that their monthly allotment of Food Stamps last for 3 weeks or less. On average they last 2.5 weeks.” —Mathematica Policy Research, the Mid-America Institute on Poverty of Heartland Alliance. 2007 Report on Illinois Poverty

St. Matthias/Transfiguration Annual Flea Market 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 8. New and used items... come and browse If you are interested in having a table call Mary at 773-725-1741.

SHOP WITH THE ANGELS What do Shell Gas, Jewel, Starbucks, Burger King, Williams Sonoma, CVS and Staples have in common? They are just a few of the participating vendors in the Shop with the Angels gift card program. See a representative in church following the 8, 9:30 or 11 a.m. Masses every Sunday or complete an order form available at school or the Parish Center. Check out the list of participating vendors to meet all your shopping and gift-giving needs. Benefit your tuition account, the Lyman Fund or the parish account with each purchase. Find out how easy it is to enjoy your favorite venues when you Shop with the Angels!

BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION Earn extra money and supplies for the school by clipping Boxtops for Education coupons from many General Mills products and labels from Campbells Soup products. Place your Boxtops for Education in an envelope and drop in the collection basket at church. Check out the boxtops4education.com marketplace for internet shopping and help the school earn extra cash at no additional cost to you.

RCIA—AN INVITATION TO COME AND SEE! RCIA stands for Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. It is an opportunity for those who have never been baptized, or baptized with little or no affiliation or religious training in the Catholic religion, to learn and ask questions about the Catholic faith. This includes those who may have been baptized Catholic, but have not yet received their First Communion or Confirmation. Sometimes after the information meetings, prayer and reflection, participants choose to begin the process for becoming Catholic or coming into full Communion. It is important to note, however, that no commitment is expected of participants at this time. Sometimes those of us who have been Catholic our whole lives forget to offer this invitation to others interested in becoming Catholic. We just assume that if they are interested, they will find their own way. Sharing with others, in a gentle way, the information about RCIA may be just what some of our relatives, friends and neighbors would welcome. They may be waiting for just such an opportunity or invitation. Please call the Parish Center at 773-539-7510 and leave your name and number. We will contact you with further information.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS ARE HERE Queen of Angels Men’s Club is selling Entertainment Books for 2008 through December 15. Coupon books for the Chicagoland area as well as throughout the country are available. Books are $25 each. For information, please call Tom Heider at 773-478-5029.

CONSIDER MINISTRY OF CARE Consider the Ministry of Care, taking an hour or two one Sunday a month to visit those who cannot come to Mass or who are hospitalized at Swedish Covenant. The next training session begins September 19. For information, call the Parish Center at 773-539-7510.